Staple strip forming mechanism



H. W. MARANO STAPLE STRIP F'ORMING MECHANISM Filed Jan. I5, 1955 July z, 1957 T 1C:1.E.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY BY M2M United States Patent() STAPLE STRIP FoRMING MECHANISM Herbert W. Marano, Summit, N. J., assignor to Wilson Jones Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Massachusetts i Application January 3, 1955, Serial No. 479,295

Claims. (Cl. 164-41) The present invention relates to an improved mechanism for the production of lstrips of predetermined lengths of cohered staples, and it relates more particularly to an improved mechanism for cutting a continuously rapidly advancing strip of cohered staples into strips of predetermined length. The present application is `a continuation-in-part over my co-pending application 'Serial No. 422,732, tiled April 13, 1954.

In the manufacture of wire staples, particularly those employed in magazine-type rstapling machines, the staples are assembled in stacked relationship, cohered and cut into `strips of predetermined lengths. The staples are packaged, dispensed and handled in such strip arrangement since not only does it permit the simple loading of the stapling machine magazine but also the convenient packaging of the staples. With conventional staple producing machines, the cutting of the continuous strip of cohered staples into lengths of predetermined sizes presents little or no problem since the production rate of these machines is low and the' advance of the cohered strips of staples is relatively slow. However, with the advent of high production rate staple producing equipment, particularly of the type 'illustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,679,723, issued June l, 1954, it ybecomes more diflicult accurately and effectively to sever the lstaple strip into predetermined lengths. While the staple strip cutting mechanism described, illustrated and claimed in my co-pending patent application is highly satisfactory `at moderately high speeds, `when the output of the staple Iforming machine is increased to very high speeds, for example of the order of 5,000 staples per minute, the aforesaid strip cutting mechanism possesses numerous drawbacks and disadvantages.

yIt is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for the production of strips of predetermined length of adhered staples.

:Another object of the present invention is to provide yan improved mechanism for cutting a continuously rapidly advancing strip of cohered staples into predetermined lengths.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for cutting a constantly rapidly advancing lcontinuous strip of cohered staples into predetermined uniform lengths without injury to the individual staples.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved high speed staple istrip cutting mechanism characterized by its simple and rugged structure and ease of operation.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved high speed staple strip cutting mechanism capable of simple adjustment in order to vary the lengths of the cut strips.

The above, other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the 'ac-4 schematic, the cutting element being illustrated in a raised position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top fragmentary detailed View;

Figure 4 lis an enlarged fragmentary detailed side elevational view illustrating the cutting element during its downward stroke; and

IFigure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 illustrating the cutting element at the bottom of its stroke.

Reference is now made to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the numeral 10 generally designates a longitudinal bar of substantially 'square cross section defining a track member, the trailing end of the bar being continuously fed -a cohered strip of staples S from a high speed staple-forming machine such as of the type described in U. S. -Patent .No. 2,679,723.

`The track -10 is horizontal and carried upon a pedestal 12, the pedestal 12 having an upright leg 13 which is laterally spaced from 4the track 10 in the vicinity of its leading end, the leg 13 having a well 14 formed therein and terminating in a pair of longitudinally spaced upwardly directed arms 16 joined adjacent their upper ends yby a pin `18 defining a stop member. Also laterally `spaced from the leading end of the track 10, on a side opposite to the leg 13, is another upright leg 20 having a pair of longitudinally spaced upwardly directed arms 22 which carry between them a pin 24. The pin 24 rotatably engages one end of a transversely extending lever 26, the opposite end of which is slidably confined between the arms 16. The lever 26 is disposed above the track 10 immediately rearwardly of the leading end thereof `and is supported in a horizontal position by a helical compression spring 28 registering with the well 14 and engaging the unde-rface of the lever 26, the upper movement of the free end of the lever 26 being limited by the stop member 18.

Mounted on lthe top face of the lever 26 in vertical Aalignment with the track 10 and secured thereto by means of screws 30 is a hingle plate 32 having a pair of laterally spaced forwardly projecting knuckles 34 supporting between them a binge .pin 36. An L-shaped bracket 38 'has a vvertical arm 40, the upper end of which is provided with a transverse bore rotatably engaging the hinge pin 36 and so disposed that the leg 40 normally assumes a vertical position, the upper inner edge of the leg 40 being rounded so as to permit the swinging of the bracket 3S. Projecting forwardly of the bottom of the bracket leg 40 is a horizontal arm 42 which releasably carries on its underface by means of a pair of socket screws 44 a bar 46 of rectangular cross section slightly wider than the track 10, the bar 46 defining a shearing element. The bar 46 extends longitudinally in the direction of the track 10, its trailing end being normally disposed above the leading end of the track 10 'slightly forward thereof, and it assumes a normally horizontal position when the lever 26 is in its normally elevated position. A torsion spring 48 has one of its legs engaged by a screw y30 and its other leg bearing upon a screw 44 to urge the bracket 40 to its clockwise position as viewed in fFigure l of the drawings, whereby the free end of the shearing element 46 is swung downwardly.

An electromagnetic solenoid -50 of conventional construction is disposed between the pedestal 12 and the leg 20 1and has associated therewith a vertically movable armature 52 formed of a magnetic material and located below the lever 26. A link '54 connects the armature 52 with the lever 26, the link being pin connected at its opposite ends to the armature 52 and the lever 26 respectively, the armature 52 being in an elevated position relative to the solenoid 50 when the lever 26 is in raised position by virtue of the compression spring 28. It should be noted that the stroke of the 4armature 'S12 is such as to carry the bottom trailing edge of the shearing element 46 ybelow t-heupperrface of the4 track 10 when the solenoid 50 'is actuated.

An upright arm54' is locatedL forward of the leading .end of the shearing element 46 and carries on its upper portion a bracket 56 having a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely projecting. arms 58 provided with longitudinally aligned tapped apertures which engage con responding thumb screws 60. A normally opened electric switch 64 is carried by the bracket 56 and is engaged between the confronting inner ends of thethumb screws 60 so as to permit theV longitudinal adjustment of the switch 64. Depending from the switch 64 is an actuating arm 66, the lower end of which is forward of the leading end of the shearing element 46 and is disposed below the longitudinal extension of the upper surface of the track 16. The switch 64 is connected electrically in series with the coil 68 of the solenoid 56 and a suitable source of current whereby upon flexing of the actuating arm 66 and the closing of the switch 64 the coil 68 is energized.

Considering now the operation of the improved staple strip severing mechanism described above, during the interval between successive severing strokes the lever 26 is supported by the compression spring 28 in its elevated position whereby the shearing element 46 is supported slightly above the path of the staples S and parallel thereto, as illustrated in Figure l of the drawings. By virtue of the weight of the shearing element 46 and the urging of the torsion spring 48, the shearing element 46 is in its clockwisemost position limited by the abutting of the confronting faces of the bracket leg 40 and the lever 26. The strip of cohered staples S is advanced along the track 10 and beyond the leading end thereof in a cantilevered fashion at a speed determined by the rate of production of the associated staple-forming equipment. As the staple strip reaches the lower end of the switch actuating arm 66, it bears against this arm and effects the closing of the switch 64. As a result of the closing of the switch 64, the circuit of the solenoid 68 is completed energizing the coil 68 and actuating the solenoid 50 to attract the armature 52, drawing it downwardly together with the lever 26 against the action ofthe cornpression spring 28. With the downward movement of the lever 26, the bracket 40 and the supported severing element 46 are rapidly carried downwardly until the severing element 46 contacts the upper surface of the staple strip S.

Upon further depression of the severing element 46, a shearing is effected between successive staples of the advancing strip in the immediate vicinity of the leading end of the track 10. As the severing element 46 is further lowered, the leading staple of the unsevered portion of the advancing strip of staples abuts the trailing end of the severing element 46, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The assembly of the bracket 4t) and the severing strip 46 is swung toward the end of its downward stroke in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 36, as seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, initially by reason of the frictional engagement between the upper face of the staple strip and the underface of the severing element 46 and thence by reason of the abutment between the lead staple of the unsevered strip andthe trailing end of the severing element 46. The illustration in Figure 5 of the drawing is somewhat exaggerated since during actual operation the various elements are so adjusted that the leading end of the severing element 46 moves very little as a result of which the leading end of the staple strip has little to move before the actuating arm 66 permits the opening of the switch 64. It should be noted that the leading end of the severing element 46 does notcontact the switch actuating arm 66.

Immediately after the opening of the switch 64, the solenoid coil 68 is de-energized whereby the solenoid 50 releases the armature 52 and the spring 50 urges the lever 26 to its horizontal position, carrying the bracket 40 and the severing element 46v therewith. The spring 48 and the weight of the element 46 returns the latter to its horizontal position and the aforesaid cycle is periodically repeated. It should be pointed out that the length of the severed staple strip may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the switch actuating arm 66 relative to the leading end of the track 10 by means of the thumb screws 60.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A staple strip severing mechanism comprising a cut-olf member having a stationary leading end over which is advanced a strip of cohered staples in a cantilevered fashion along a predetermined path beyond said leading end, a shearing clement normally supported above the path of said staple strip forward of said cut-off member leading end and freely movable in the direction of the path of said staple strip and normally unrestrictedly urged to a retracted position adjacent to said cut-off member leading end, said shearing element having an underface confronting said staple strip and extending in the direction of advance of said staples the distance of a plurality of said staples, and means for depressing said elongated shearing element below the level of said cutA olf member.

2. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance with claim l, wherein said cut-off member defines the front end of a track along which said staple strip is advanced.

3. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance with claim l, including means responsive to the position of the leading end of said advancing strip of staples for actuating said shearing element depressing means.

4. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance with claim l, wherein said shearing element depressing means comprises an armature connected to said shear ing element and a solenoid cooperatively associated with said armature and including normally open electric switch means connecting said solenoid to a source of current and a switch actuating arm having a section thereof disposed in the path of said staple strip.

5. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance with claim l, including a depending arm pivotally supported above its lower end to permit the swinging thereof in the direction of advance of said staple strip and supporting said severing element adjacent its lower end.

6. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance with claim 5, including spring means urging said severing element toward a substantially horizontal position.

7. A staple strip severing mechanism comprising a track member having a leading end and adapted to guide a strip of cohered staples in a cantilevered fashion along a predetermined path beyond said leading end, a movable member located above said track and movable between a raised and depressed position, a bracket member swingably depending from said movable member along the direction of said staple path, a severing member mounted on said bracket and extending along the path of said staple strip forward of said track leading end for a distance corresponding to a plurality of said staples, the underface of said severing member being disposed above the top face of said track member when said movable member is in its elevated position and below said top face when said movable member is in its depressed position.

8. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance with claim 7, including a solenoid having an associated References Cited in the file of this patent armature connected to said movable member. UNITED STATES PATENTS 9. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance ing provided with an actuating arm disposed in said staple 17,5344 Chessman May 20 1930 10. A staple strip severing mechanism in accordance with claim 7, including spring means urging said movable member to its elevated position. 10 

